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mealmeal /miːl/ ●●●S2W2 noun1[countable]DF an occasion when you eatfood, for examplebreakfast or dinner, or the food that you eat on that occasionWe must have a meal together some time.Dinner is the main meal of the day for most people.2[uncountable]DFTAgrain that has been crushed into a powder, for making flour or animal food →bonemeal3 →make a meal (out) of somethingCOLLOCATIONSverbshave a meal (=eat a meal)We usually have our evening meal fairly early.eat a mealWhen they had eaten their meal, they went out for a walk.cook/make a meal (also prepare a meal formal)Who cooks most of the meals?serve a mealThe bar serves snacks and meals.fix a meal informal especially American English (=make a meal)go (out) for a mealHow about going out for a meal tonight?take somebody (out) for a mealHe took Anna out for a meal and then to the theatre.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + mealan evening/midday mealThe evening meal is served at 7.30.the main mealThey had their main meal at lunchtime.a three-course/five-course etc meal (=a meal with several separate parts)a three-course meal, including appetizer and desserta good meal (=a meal that is large enough and tastes good)We’ll get a good meal there.a decent meal/a square meal (also a proper meal British English) (=with enough good food to satisfy you)I hadn’t had a decent meal in days.a big/large mealWe don’t have a big meal at lunchtime, usually just sandwiches.a hot mealWith a hot meal inside me, I began to feel better.a delicious meal‘It was a delicious meal, ’ Merrill said politely.a heavy meal (=with a lot of rich food)A heavy meal is likely to make you feel sleepy.a light meal (=with not a lot of food)a light meal of salada simple meala simple meal of soup and breada balanced meal (=with some of each type of food, to keep you healthy)We make healthy, balanced meals for our children.a gourmet meal (=one with very nice and often complicated food)The day ended with a gourmet meal in a good restaurant.a slap-up meal British English informal (=a good meal)Jennie cooked us a slap-up meal.a full meal (=a complete meal)I’m not hungry enough to eat a full meal.a healthy mealHealthy meals can still be quick and easy to prepare.a school meal (=provided by a school)Many of the children are receiving free school meals.regular meals (=ones that are eaten at the same time each day)Patients are advised to eat regular meals.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘take a meal’. Say have a meal.THESAURUStypes of mealbreakfast a meal that you eat in the morningbrunch a meal that you eat in the late morning, instead of breakfast or lunchlunch a meal that you eat in the middle of the daytea British English a meal that you eat in the afternoon or eveningdinner the main meal of the day, which most people eat in the eveningsupper a small meal that you eat in the evening, in British English; the main meal that you eat in the evening, in American Englishpicnic a meal that you eat outdoors, consisting of food that you cooked or preparedearlierbarbecue a meal that you cook outdoors over hotcoals or wood and eat outdoorssnack a small amount of food that is eaten between main meals or instead of a mealside dish food eaten with the main course, such as vegetablesI’ll have the salad as a side dish.course one of the separate parts of a meal, such as the starter or the desserta three-course mealparts of a large mealhors d'oeuvre (also starter British English, appetizer American English) the small first part of a meala tempting plate of hors d'oeuvres including olives and small pieces of roast beetrootmain course (also entrée especially American English) the main part of a meal. entrée is used especially on restaurantmenusFor the main course we had cheese and onion pie. The menu includes a few hot entrées.dessert (also pudding British English or sweet British English)sweet food eaten at the end of a mealWhat do you want for dessert?They serve a wide range of desserts, including ice cream and home-made apple pie.